Knowledge and Competence and Professional Practice Essay

Knowledge and Competence and Professional Practice - Essay Example The essay will also discuss issues related to accountability as a nurse as well as factors that affect the decision making process and how this translates into professional practice. Analysis of the theories of knowledge, competence and professional practice The concept of knowledge is closely related to the theory of knowledge creation. Knowledge creation is not only concerned with dealing with objective information but it also takes into consideration insights that are highly subjective from members of the organisation and these are tested in order to be used by the other employees (Robbins, 1993). Basically, â€Å"knowledge creation is defined as the process of making available and amplifying knowledge created by individuals as well attempting to connect it with the organization’s knowledge system,†( Nonaka, Krogh & Voelpel 2006). New ideas are generated and these are helpful in the operations of the organisation as a whole. Having generated the required knowledge, i t becomes imperative to formalise a continuous improvement of the knowledge through different management systems for the benefit of the organisation as a whole. ... It can also be noted that knowledge creation is not a preserve for influential people in an organisation alone but it ought to include input from all members within that particular organisation. In case of a clinical setup, through knowledge creation, the nurses are given the autonomy to make informed decisions in their operations especially with regards to post operative recovery. Practice theory is applicable in this particular case where I will use my knowledge to offer appropriate treatment to alleviate pain. This also entails transformation of knowledge into practical skills. Decision making that is enhanced through knowledge creation is essential to the operations of every organisation (Schultz, 2003). This concept is also applicable in the area of practice of health care professionals as they are likely to develop a sense of belonging to the hospital which is a basic tenet for practice development. I strongly believe that my duties can be enhanced through making decisions with regards to administering treatment to the patients. According to Nonaka, Krogh & Voelpel (2006) the success of other conventional organisations is mainly influenced by their ability to keep pace with changes that may be obtaining in the business environment at that particular period and it can be seen that knowledge creation plays a pivotal role. This concept can also be applied to a clinical setup where the operations of different hospitals are moulded on the same business principles with other conventional businesses. Performance is also enhanced through knowledge creation and sharing given that the health care professionals are in a better position to make informed decisions that may affect their operations. Decisions made by an individual often shape his

Assesment 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Assesment 2 - Essay Example In the health care setting for example, there are numerous forms of predicaments and this includes health care fraud. The sapping of financial resources in the health care system, along with several other consequences, problems associated with personnel development plans and shortage of competent staff are just few of the magnified issues. The concerns on fraud and abuse greatly affected the everyday life of health care personnel particularly the nurse practitioners; since these professionals are the â€Å"front liners† in terms of delivery of care. Nurse practitioners (NPs) can hardly go away from working in clinical environments; and this expose them further to fiscal issues of billing, reimbursement and revenue production issues. In other words, the described situation is somewhat stressful for them. Fraud is actually described as â€Å"any act, omission, expression, or concealment calculated to delude another individual,† Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Law stated. Medicare and other government funded health benefit programs are usually the targets of these schemes. Billing for needless or the double billing schemes, unperformed tests, and kickbacks are few of the most common fraudulent activity that burden most patients;this is reported by the Social Security Act, Section 1128C reiterates that (a) of the designed the Health Care Fraud as well as Program for Abuse Control Program (Department of Justice, 2000). There are several approaches to address concerns in an organization. One very important is the evaluation of the organization’s strengths, weaknesses, as well as opportunities. If limitations in the human and/or financial resources are identified, it may be a necessity to provide attention to the organizations opportunities through the use of phased approach. On the other hand, based on the Economic and Social Research Council Strategic Plan, (2009; p 5-7). Extensive consultations are very necessary to identify areas of strategic

What Are The Advantages Of Internal Promotion Commerce Essay

What Are The Advantages Of Internal Promotion Commerce Essay Internal promotion is a strategic management idea accepted widely. And it is already utilized by many companies in the world . Comparing with external recruitment, internal promotion has some advantages in companys growth stage especially. It is more economic and essential and is conducive to keep companies developing orderly. In this essay, I will discuss the reasons why internal promotion is superior by analyzing and comparing Microsoft , Sodexo company, General Electric and some other international companies in their development. And I will conclude that internal promotion should be widely spread in companies in their initial stages to make them grow well. We believe that internal promotion is also a good way to build a sense of loyalty, create incentives for employees innovation at work and more easily to find a good person for the new job vacancy. Therefore, our tradition of internal promotions can guarantee anyone who joins in Sodexo a bright future of constant career development. (Sodexo concept)When candidates read these sentences, I am sure that they will have confidence in this company and the employees who already work in this company also like to share what they have known and do their work with passion. When a company was settled, it is not mature because many systems, culture and even the goal have not been confirmed. What drives the workers to devote themselves to the unsure future is their motivation and passion. They even consist the history of a company. During this stage, to develop it, HR need to pay more attention on initial employees and give them the priority to be promoted. As the employees recognize their achievement is always concerned and the responsibility is great at this stage. They can also take part in the growth of company and get the advancement opportunity. (Michael Adam)What mentioned all can motivate an employee Microsoft adopted the internal promotion strategy at the beginning and the result proved to be successful. When Bill Gates started Microsoft, he already had the concept that his employees are his most valuable asset, and he gave the conclusion that without them, Microsoft would become negligible. There is a strategy in Microsoft called n minus 1 which shows that the number of employed people is less than the position need-then all employees have the chance to be promoted. When Microsoft expanded later, it was nearly all early employees being promoted. And to encourage them and keep them, they even got the stock options as reward. They all play an important part in the development of later. The key to supporting the motivation of your employee is understanding what motivates each of them.( McNamara). There is a number of excellent people working for Microsoft. What these workers need is to achieve thier self-actualization As Microsoft give great opportunities, workers are all willing to work hard to make company better. Under these strategies, when Microsoft stepped into the next stage and expand itself, it already owed its own systems, culture and the clear goal. From 2009 to 2010, it is about 11.5% management positions in Sodexo company are filled through internal promotion. And it is over 79% employees believe that Sodexo provides them an opportunity to learn and develop. (Sodexo China figure) An extreme example of GE (General Electric), it is nearly 80% of the companys senior positions generated by the internal promotion. The leaders in GE spent almost all their career. Our principle is to tap internal talent, human resources manager of GE (William Conaty). Unless forced to, we do not want to rely on outsiders. He said. Many international enterprises in Europe have formed the internal selection system in their early stage. From cultivating employees and appointment of employing strategies to mechanisms, these enterprises have a mature procedures For example, General Electric, Motorola, Procter Gamble, Ford Motor Company, Boeing, 3M Company and other famous companies, in their operating time adding to 1700 years, only four CEOs hired from the outside, and only two companies before. Good to great (Jim .Collins ,2009) says that celebrity who is brought in from outside the company as a new leader, often lead a negative effect on the company. Among 11 international companies, there are 10 companies CEO appointed from the companys internal promotion. According to a survey to more than 200 foreign investments in China from people.com, when a company faces a situation that there an empty position turns up, they prefer internal promotion than external, and the original department has the priority. It shows that 67% companies adopt internal promotions on management position , and 2% will recruit from labor marketing, and 1% will be appointed by the government.55% companies adopt internal promotion on skill positions, 45% of them will search new employees from labor marketing.(people.com) When a vacancy occurs in the enterprise positions, the modern human resource managements common practice is internal-promotion -oriented, especially in small companies at their initial stage. II: Comparison of internal promotion and external recruitment advantages disadvantages Internal promotion Improving the promoted employees morale Judging the staffs capacity more accurately Saving costs in some areas (time/money recruiting /training) Mobilizing employees working enthusiasm Contributing to the continuous improvement Reinforcing a companys internal career ladder Retaining leaving staff Reducing induction training period Reducing the risk of selecting an inappropriate candidate Inbreeding(narrowing the view of the enterprise) Reducing morale of un-promoted employee Political intrigue Demanding a systematic managing and training plan External recruitment Fresh blood broadening companys horizons Cheap and fast in professionals training A small group of political supporters having not been formed A form of advertising Improving the skills in judging external employees Incurring spies Not recruiting suitable candidates Impacting the morale of internal un-selected candidates Longer adjustment period need by new employees Not fitting with new companys culture (Strategic Approach to Human Resource Management Page153-165 author ¼Ã… ¡Tapomoy Deb) III: Analysis It is said that people who join in a company at its initial stage promote the company excellent. While people who join it later depend on the companys excellence.( Jamie Zawinski,2010) . Internal promotion belongs to a companys incentive system, and it is a basic system to make a company attractive and influential. There are many different theories about the internal promotion. Race theory (Lazear and Rosen, 1981), or career models in the organization(Gibbons and Waldman, 1999). These various models provide various explanitations of internal promotion (Greenwald, 1979; Chen, 1996; Fairburn and Malcomson, 2001) and its consequences (Prendergrast, 1993). To brief, if you want to encourage your employees ,what you need do firstly is to make them escape from problems which bother them by company and treat all employees equal. When you make this true, it means the company offer its employees chance to make achievements and grow. Co-ordination between the employee and the organization is important. Project staff working more effectively, their overall goals and team goals rather than individual goals (Christopher Brown) reported by a recent study in the Journal of Applied Psychology. Maslows hierarchy of needs can also explain this question. Self-realization is a top level of self-gratification.( Maslow ,1943) Provide the opportunity to grow, be creative and get the training challenging task and push forward (Daft 530).is regarded as an effective method. Just as what has mentioned above in the table, the HRM take the responsibility to shape a companys organizational culture, the core concept , a completed system etc. Especially in small companies, the number of employees is limited, and the bonds between workers are strong. According to Dunbars number theory(Dunbar,1992) , if a departments worker number under a certain level(150-250), the organizational culture just begins to shape. Everyone personality and group practice play an important role in the operation. The leader in shaping corporate culture is vital, which means if this company promote a new leader, it is easy for the entire companies shift the attention away from its original growth direction which may still operate potentially. Under this reason, the internal promotion is necessary in small companies.( Bidwell, 2011,ibid) That promoting internal middle managers or high managers not only take advantage of their talent ,also can encourage other root managers and employees competitive. Because this company illustrate its attitude to its workers that it provides great tunnels for them making progress. If a manager who was selected as a sub-promoting member, it may launch that this persons work style, communication style and his attitude is accepted or committed by people. These will help this sub-leader lead the team work effectively and united. Reward system gives the information of a companys value to judge the employees (Robbins, Bergman Stagg 84).A company can use many ways to motivate its employees to work. Satisfaction and growth in a company are two important factors. (Frederick Herzberg ,1959).The internal promotion is just a suitable method to meet employees need. It is worth noting that internal promotion is not only chosen as an inciting way in management position, but also in skill management. Training technical staff, companies need to consume a certain amount of human and financial capitals. If the staff control sophisticated technology, they can make amount of benefits for a company. But if the company failed to attract employees to continue to work effectively and stay in the enterprise, then it is not only the effectiveness of the companys loss, but also provides an opportunity for potential competitors. Due to the small size of the company, organizational productivity is influenced by every employee in it. It has been improved that entrepreneurs are unwilling to give up control, because they believe that standardized management enterprise beyond their abilities (McMahon and Murphy, 1999). IV: How to adopt internal promotion effectively (HR WORLD,2011,ibid) Risk To a small company, the way to select and appoint an middle or high manager should be base on its real surroundings. Even though the human resource department can not guarantee to make a right choice, considering the disadvantages both internal promotion and external recruitment is necessary. Minimizing the risk should take into concern. The risk is the uncertainty of future expectations. Comparing internal and external way, there are three aspects that external way higher than internal way. First, an outside manager can only prove how was successful in the past work, but can not prove how suitable himself or herself to this work. Second, in a small company, its organization culture is in shape, a new leader outside may not adjust to its culture or want to bring other companies culture in. It is another unknown thing. Third, if the human resource department appoint an unsuitable manager, it is not just about a waste of a position. The whole team will face an uncertain loss. Even the new manager can adopt to the new environment well. The adopting time is uncontrolled. Obviously, the external recruitment takes risk, meanwhile we can not avoid the risk of internal promotion. A company knows its employee better than outside, but this employee still will face a new occupation when get promoted. At the same time, because of many politic issues, there may lead to some contradictions among different departments. Cost Cost is a significant issue to take into accounting. It seems that choosing a worker from original department or company is the economical way. Because the company does not waste too much money or time in hiring a manager. Is it true? To realize this internal promotion system, another system named training system should be operated. When a company faces a need of manager, this system can supply a fixed person in time. Building such a perfect system requires much cost before. External recruitment demonstrates its superiority. However , if a company can not build a training system when it was settled, it can not supply the growth space for employees, which means employees who want to pursue their progress must leave this company sooner or later. What will cost is beyond the cost of training system. Income Despite the cost and risk , as a company, it should care about income. No matter internal or external way , if the new manager can make profits for the company , and make the whole manager level balance, both of them can be considered. V: Conclusion We can not conclude that internal promotion is better than external recruitment free-minded. The conclusion need depend on the industry and maturity of a company, as well as specific occupation. A small company has its own characteristics. It is stepping in a developing road. It is too frangible to bear risk. If someone do not have any experience in a small company , it is really hard for this person integrate into a small company easily. And it may make some troubles for a small companys operation based on some experiences in the big one. The new manager also need more patience. Whoever works in a developing company as a manager all under pressure. With the help of training system , an employee who has full motivation for their company and also made some achievements, understanding their organization culture in deep and having potential to be a leader can become a new manager. There is no doubt that , this type of internal employee is stronger than external candidates.

Kids Worst Nightmares :: essays research papers

Kid’s Worst Nightmare   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The worst nightmare for a child in elementary school is to hear his/her teacher say they will have no recess. Most children look forward to recess every day and some could even play everyday all day if they could. It is a time for them to let off all the stress that has built up from school work, and a time for them to be themselves. The council on Physical Education for Children agree that recess is a necessity, they state that â€Å"Recess is a time that gives children opportunities to engage in physical activity, to developing, healthy bodies which in return would create healthy minds and bodies that would be capable for learning† (COPEC, 2001). Recess is needed in all schools because it is healthy for all children, it improves social skills with one another, and it revitalizes the children.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Recess is an important part of child development in Elementary Schools because it allows the children to get the necessary exercises they need, which is healthy for all children. Due to some parents’ work loads, community violence, and safety issues some children are unable to play freely. As a result of these issues, children are leaning more towards watching television, playing video games and other inactive activities that endanger their health (Jarrett, 2003). Therefore, children are at high risk for early signs of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Recess is a way that Elementary schools help prevent health issues in some children’s lives. It also serves as a developmentally appropriate strategy for reducing stress. Olga S. Jarrett did a study on recess, she stated that â€Å"Recess allows children to be active which will make the child more assertive and able to focus on their class work when he/she starts on it† (Jarrett, 2003). Jarr ett also study how recess works with the brain and she concludes that â€Å"Recess involves that valuable, unstructured downtime, that research says is crucial for recycling brain chemicals that formulate long term memory† (Jarrett, 2003). During play, children breathe in oxygen which helps fuel their brains, creating more connections between neurons. This helps their brain to process information, and leads to better grades. Recess also helps with the development of children’s social skills and in the long run, being an adult in society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  While children play, they are still learning; they are learning life-long skills that will help them as adults. Skills such as working together, resolving conflicts, motor skills, and cognitive abilities are being taught.

Describe the Role and Status of Women in the 1940s and 1950s Essay

After the First World War women had gained a huge step towards having equality with men. In 1918 married women over the age of 30 were given the right to vote. During the war women had proved themselves as capable as men, not only as nurses near the front lines working in very dangerous positions but also back in Britain working to help the war effort in jobs that before the war they could never have even had a chance of getting. However women were still a long way of having any vague equality with men, and when the men returned from war things changed as men were still considered far above women. Although it had got worse since the end of the war it should be recognised that womens role in society had been greatly improved since the days before the First World War. During the Second World War many of the men were conscripted to go away to war. This meant that their jobs now needed to be filled in order for the country to work., women got jobs in all areas of employment from working in manual labour to working in banks. They also managed to prove that they could do the jobs just as well as men and were able to work in jobs that had previously been for men only. Gaining all these new jobs had been a huge leap towards women gaining equality with men, however when the men returned from war most if the women lost their war time jobs. This happened because of a number of reasons. Firstly, public opinion in general believed that the soldiers who had been fighting deserved to come back to jobs and not have to struggle with unemployment. Also some bosses of small and large companies felt that men were still better and didnt want to employ women over men. A women who had worked as a welder during the war years was told, â€Å"Oh my goodness, youve got the best qualifications that we ever had apply for the job, but your a woman, and I wonder what the boys would say if I employed a woman† A newspaper editor was told when she was dismissed,†Oh its nothing wrong with your work, but we have to safeguard the succession and the successor has to be a man†. Bosses who were taking this line, and most of them were were infact taking and supporting the governments line. The governments official line said it is doubtless true that there are many jobs done during the war by women for which men are better suited, both mentally and physically. And, if there is to be a nation in the future, there must be children and children mean homes and endless chores. So that there must naturally be a drift back from the services and the factories to domestic work. I believe that this is showing that men and the government (dominated by men) were showing an incompetence to realise that women were able to do the jobs that men traditionally did. So although women had again gained a further step towards equality after the war they had again lost some of that newly gained freedom when the war ended in 1945. However not all women were displeased at societys attitude as after the war many women wanted to start families and now the men had come back from the war they were able to do this. The evidence for this lies in an area known as the baby boom, when the birth rate soared dramatically after the war. Even after the war when women were gaining more equality with men they did not have equal pay rates as men. A woman doing the same amount of work as a man would be paid two thirds of what a man would be paid. Women didnt, understandably find this fair and in August 1943 them women who worked at a Rolls Royce factory went on strike and after a week on strike they were given equal pay. However all over the rest of the country women continued be exploited by societies views. Even the government were not willing to even think about women being equal to men. When female school teachers asked for equal pay with men, Churchill dismissed their demand with one word. Even though now he was falling out of favour with the people and was soon to lose the general election, it showed that some men and in incredibly important positions within society, had no respect still for womens role in society. This meant that their status remained below a mans status even though in some cases they had become more equal, such as the right it do certain types of jobs. Before 1948 the government offered no medical assistance to women or their children only a small amount to men. In 1942 the Beveridge report was published which illustrated the importance of setting up a Welfare State which would look after all citizens equally. In July 1948 the National Health Service Act and the National Insurance Act were introduced for a weekly payment by all people earning wages. This was a huge advance for womens equality and their place in society as it now made them equal. In the first few months thousands of women went to the NHS to be treated of illnesses that they had previously had to suffer in silence. The introduction of the Welfare State also brought about the Butler Education Act. This meant that the minimum age to leave school was now raised to fifteen for all children. This was another huge advance for girls in school as it meant that there was now not only had free secondary education, and therefor this meant that the government recognised girls ability to thrive within a working and intellectual environment. It also meant that they were being put on the same level platform and being given equal opportunities in schools as boys, which would then go onto to effect the whole generations and its way of dealing with women as equals. However the system was slightly corrupt and it was not entirely equal. When pupils went up into secondary schools they had to take an 11+ exam to determine which type of school they would go in to. There were three different types, grammar for the most academic, secondary modern and technical for pupils who would be more suited to manual and primary sector jobs. Although the system seemed to give equal opportunities for both girls and boys there were infact more grammar schools for boys than there were for girls. The Welfare State also introduced family allowances to try and deal with poverty among families with a large numbers of children. It meant that for each child a small payment was paid to the women to help keep the child. This meant that the women now had some control over the finances within the household and that the man could not just go out and spend the money needed for the children. I believe that in the 1940s and 50s womens role in society improved greatly and that there were huge leaps made towards equality. However there were still some major issues that still had not been resolved and needed to be if there was going to get equality between men and women

Divine Command Theory, Objectivism, Diversity and Dep Theses

1. Explain what is meant by saying that a value is intrinsic? How are instrumental values related to intrinsic values? A value is said to be intrinsic if an object has the value for its own sake or because of its nature. A value is said to be instrumental if it aids in achieving or acquiring something with intrinsic value. For example, one’s job could have instrumental value in that it acquires money. Furthermore, money could have instrumental value in that it can provide objects from which one derives happiness or pleasure, something with intrinsic value.Objects or activities with instrumental value typically aid in acquiring things with intrinsic value. 2. According to the Divine Command Theory (DCT), does God command what he commands because it is intrinsically good; or is what God commands â€Å"good† because it is God who commands it? The Divine Command Theory suggests that what God commands is â€Å"good† because He commands it, but this view is not necessa rily valid. According to the DCT, â€Å"goodness† is equated with â€Å"God-willed,† suggesting that the commands of God are â€Å"good† because they are His commands.A statement such as â€Å"God is good† becomes redundant and illogical if â€Å"good† is equated with â€Å"God-willed. † It would be more logical to think that God’s commands have intrinsic goodness since atheists and other nonbelievers can identify with some moral foundation. An atheist might choose to believe that God was correct in saying that â€Å"killing is wrong† not because he believes in God’s word but rather he believes that the rule is intrinsically good. 3. According to the Divine Command Theory why should we obey the moral law?According to the Divine Command Theory, we should obey the moral law because it is the word of God. The DCT suggests that â€Å"morally right† means â€Å"willed by God,† so acting in compliance with moral law is essentially synonymous with acting in compliance with the word of God. Since God determines the moral law, no other reason is required for us to obey. 4. Explain why the DCT logically makes morality arbitrary. Why is arbitrariness a problem for morality? The Divine Command Theory suggests that morally â€Å"right† simply means willed by God.If something is morally â€Å"right† based solely on what God determines, an unsettling arbitrariness arises out of His commands. It would seem that God could just as easily make seemingly â€Å"immoral† acts â€Å"moral† (i. e. rape, genocide). The problem with arbitrariness is that it makes the development of a deeper, more appreciative morality absolutely impossible. An example can be made out of the story of Joshua and the battle at Jericho. If we are to believe that God determines what is morally â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong,† then we believe that Joshua was just in slaughtering the men, women , and children because it was God’s command.In this scenario, this belief prevents the development of a moral understanding that murder is wrong, a severe problem for morality. 5. Define and explain Ethical Relativism, Ethical Absolutism, and Ethical Objectivism. Ethical relativism is the idea that moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† are defined within a society/culture or by an individual. The difference between society (conventional ethical relativism) and an individual (subjective ethical relativism) defining morality is very clear. Subjectivists hold that individuals are allowed to define what is â€Å"right† or â€Å"wrong,† but this would suggest that criminals (i. . murderers, cannibals, rapists) are correct and morally â€Å"right† when they engage in their crimes, since no one can ever be wrong. Conventionalists would hold that a society or culture is left to define moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong. † However, it wou ld allow for any group to declare their ideals â€Å"right† or â€Å"just,† suggesting that groups with â€Å"immoral† ideals (i. e. congregations of rapists, murderers, etc. ) would be just as morally â€Å"right† as pro-life activists. Ethical absolutism holds that fundamental, absolute moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† exist and must not be defied by anyone, regardless of context.However, the ethical objectivist believes that there exists a universal morality relevant to all people and cultures, but with context taken into consideration. For example, the ethical absolutist would believe that a mother stealing medicine to help her sick child is wrong because the bottom line is that stealing is wrong. However, the ethical objectivist would hold that the mother’s reasoning was sound and that her moral obligation to help her child overrides her moral duty to the law. 6.Explain how the â€Å"Diversity Thesis† together with the â€Å"Dependency Thesis† logically imply the conclusion that Ethical Relativism is true. Then, give at least two arguments against ethical relativism. Are there reasons to believe that there are some objective values that apply in any society? The Diversity Thesis is an anthropological fact stating that moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† vary amongst different societies, so there are no fundamental or universal morals held by all societies. The Dependency Thesis states that what is morally â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† is dependent upon what the society defines as right and wrong.If both of these hold true, and conventional ethical relativism is described by a society in which moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† are defined within the society, then the connection is clear. The Diversity Thesis coupled with the Dependency Thesis entail the conclusion outlined in conventional ethical relativism. There are a number of arguments to be ma de against the idea of conventional ethical relativism. For example, some cultures view their women as inferior to men, withholding basic rights (and in some cases, inflicting genital mutilation).While this may be seen by a majority of the society as acceptable, it is often argued that the disregard for human rights is immoral. The ethical relativist would argue that the society is right in doing whatever it collectively thinks is right. In this case, and in many more, it is clear that the society is not always correct in defining moral â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong† by its own standards. Additionally, the ethical relativist might argue that the pro-slavery movement in early America was morally sound because the society thought that what they were doing was morally â€Å"right. The notion that slavery is wrong is now more widely accepted, but a glimpse not too far into our country’s past would prove otherwise. This is an obvious example of why ethical relativism is incorrect and can inadvertently allow immorality to be permissible. It is sound to think that the value of human life is an objective value relevant to all societies. While it may be recognized to varying degrees in different parts of the world, it is safe to acknowledge human life as something to be universally valued by all societies.

Inca Star Worship and Constellations

Inca Star Worship and Constellations The stars in the sky were very important to the religion of the Inca. They identified constellations and individual stars and assigned them a purpose. According to the Inca, many of the stars were there to protect animals: every animal had a corresponding star or constellation which would look out for it. Today, traditional Quechua communities still see the same constellations in the sky as they did centuries ago. Inca Culture and Religion The Inca culture thrived in the Andes Mountains in western South America from the twelfth to sixteenth centuries. Although they started out as one ethnic group among many in the region, they embarked upon a campaign of conquest and assimilation and by the fifteenth century, they had achieved pre-eminence in the Andes and controlled an empire which stretched from present-day Colombia to Chile. Their religion was complicated. They had a pantheon of greater gods which included Viracocha, the creator, Inti, the Sun, and Chuqui Illa, the thunder god. They also worshiped huacas, which were spirits which could inhabit just about any remarkable phenomenon, such as a waterfall, large boulder or tree. The Inca and the Stars The sky was very important to the Inca culture. The sun and moon were considered gods and temples and pillars were laid out specifically so that heavenly bodies such as the sun would pass over pillars or through windows on certain days, such as the summer solstice. The stars played an important role in Inca cosmology. The Inca believed that Viracocha had planned for the protection of all living things, and that to each star corresponded a particular sort of animal or bird. The star grouping known as the Pleiades held particular influence over the lives of animals and birds. This group of stars was not considered a greater god but rather a huaca, and Inca shamans would regularly make sacrifices to it. Inca Constellations Like many other cultures, the Inca grouped the stars into constellations. They saw many animals and other things from their daily lives when they looked to the stars. There were two sorts of constellations for the Inca. The first are of the common variety, where groupings of stars are linked in connect-the-dots fashion to make images of gods, animals, heroes, etc. The Inca saw some such constellations in the sky but considered them inanimate. The other constellations were seen in the absence of stars: these dark blotches on the Milky Way were seen as animals and were considered living or animate. They lived in the Milky Way, which was considered a river. The Inca were one of the very few cultures who found their constellations in the absence of stars. Mach’acuay: The Serpent One of the major dark constellations was Machacuay, the Serpent. Although snakes are rare at the high altitudes where the Inca Empire thrived, there are a few, and the Amazon River basin is not far away to the east. The Inca saw serpents as highly mythological animals: rainbows were said to be serpents named amarus. Machacuay was said to oversee all snakes on Earth, protecting them and helping them procreate. The constellation Machacuay is a wavy dark band located on the Milky Way between Canis Major and the Southern Cross. The constellation serpent emerges head-first in the Inca region in August and begins to set in February: Interestingly, this mirrors the activity of real snakes in the zone, which are more active during the Andean rainy season of December to February. Hanp’atu: The Toad In a somewhat surprising twist on nature, Hanpatu the Toad chases Machacuay the Serpent out of the Earth in August as that segment of the Milky Way becomes visible in Peru. Hanpatu is seen in a lumpish dark cloud between Machacuays tail and the Southern Cross. Like the snake, the toad was an important animal to the Inca. The nocturnal croaking and chirping of frogs and toads were listened to attentively by Inca diviners, who believed that the more these amphibians croaked, the more likely it was to rain soon. Also like the snakes, the Andean toads are more active during the rainy season; in addition, they croak more at night when their constellation is visible in the sky. Hanpatu also had the added significance that his appearance in the night sky coincided with the beginning of the Inca agricultural cycle: when he showed up, it meant that the time to plant had come. Yutu: The Tinamou Tinamous are clumsy ground birds similar to partridges, common in the Andean region. Located at the base of the Southern Cross, Yutu is the next dark constellation to emerge as the Milky Way becomes visible in the night sky. Yutu is a dark, kite-shaped spot which corresponds to the Coal Sack Nebula. It chases Hanpatu, which makes some sense because tinamous are known to eat small frogs and lizards. The tinamou may have been selected (as opposed to any other bird) because it exhibits remarkable social behavior: male tinamous attract and mate with females, who lay their eggs in his nest before leaving to repeat the process with another male. Males, therefore, incubate the eggs, which could come from 2 to 5 mating partners. Urcuchillay: The Llama The next constellation to emerge is the llama, perhaps the most important of the constellations to the Inca. Although the llama is a dark constellation, the stars Alpha and Beta Centauri serve as its â€Å"eyes† and are the first to emerge when the llama rises in November. The constellation consists of two llamas, a mother, and a baby. Llamas were of great importance to the Inca: they were food, beasts of burden and sacrifices to the gods. These sacrifices often took place at certain times with astronomical significance such as equinoxes and solstices. Llama herders were particularly attentive to the movements of the celestial llama and offered it sacrifices. Atoq: The Fox The fox is a small black splotch at the feet of the llama: this is appropriate because Andean foxes eat baby vicuà ±as. When they foxes come by, however, the adult vicuà ±as gang up and attempt to trample the foxes to death. This constellation has a connection to earthly foxes: the Sun passes through the constellation in December, the time when baby foxes are born. Significance of Inca Star Worship The Inca constellations and their worship - or at least a certain respect for them and an understanding of their role in the agricultural cycle - are one of few aspects of Inca culture that survived the conquest, colonial era and 500 years of forced assimilation. The original Spanish chroniclers mentioned the constellations and their importance, but not in any great detail: fortunately, modern researchers have been able to fill in the gaps by making friends and doing fieldwork in rural, traditional Andean Quechua communities where people still see the same constellations their ancestors saw centuries ago. The nature of Inca reverence for their dark constellations reveals much about Inca culture and religion. To the Inca, everything was connected: The universe of the Quechuas is not composed of a series of discrete phenomena and events, but rather there is a powerful synthetic principle underlying the perception and ordering of objects and events in the physical environment. (Urton 126). The snake in the sky had the same cycle as earthly snakes and lived in a certain harmony with the other celestial animals. Consider this in contrast to traditional western constellations, which were a series of images (scorpion, hunter, scales, etc) that really didnt interact with one another or events here on Earth (except for vague fortunetelling). Sources Cobo, Bernabà ©. (translated by Roland Hamilton) Inca Religion and Customs. Austin: the University of Texas Press, 1990.Sarmiento de Gamboa, Pedro. (translated by Sir Clement Markham). History of the Incas. 1907. Mineola: Dover Publications, 1999.Urton, Gary. Animals and Astronomy in the Quechua Universe. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. Vol. 125, No. 2. (April 30, 1981). P. 110-127.